Well for flower boxes and the like



March 27, 1934. LIZZQLA WELL FOR FLOWER BOXES AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1933 INVENTOR- flrzydo L z zzala XM4/ 14M ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE WELL FOR rnownn BGXES AND THE LIKE Angelo Lizzola, New York, N. Y. Application March e, 1933, Serial No. 659,738 1 Claim. (01. [FY-38) This invention relates to improvements in wells for flower boxes, flower pots and the like.

Ordinarily flower boxes,-fiower pots and the like are supplied with water by the simple process 5 of pouring water directly upon the earth in the box or sprinkling Water thereon inany suitable manner. This practice has a number of disadvantages, such as disrupting the surface in the earth of the .box or pot, or unequally moistening the earth, since the top part of the earthmay receive an abundance of water while the lower .part thereof may be lacking in moisture.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new, simple, and inexpensive device which can beinserted in a flower box or the like to serve as a well therefor. i

- Another object of the invention is to provide a well member of such configuration as to conform substantially to the shape of the box or pet in which it is positioned.

A still further object of the invention istoprovide a member for cleaning the inside of the well device of any deposit of earth and the like. In accordance with the present invention use is made of a simple device, the walls of which are foraminated, which can be embedded directly in the earth in a flower box, pot or the like. This device is preferably of some metal which may be rust resisting or not as occasion demands. After the device has been embedded in the earth in a flower box, etc., water may be poured into the well member to insure that an equal moistening of all the earth results. The well members i may be of various sizes and shapes to conform to the sizes and shapes of the boxes or pots in conjunction with which they are to be used.

For example, if a square box or pot is used, the well member may be of substantially rectangular cross section. It may even be made with one vertical side open, which side is closed by the actual wall of the box in which the well member is situated. In connection with this type of well member, use may be made of a cleaning implement in the nature of a flat plate of size to fit closely in the well member together with a rod-like handle. Normally the plate rests in the bottom of the well and is pulled upwardly when it is desired to clean the walls of the well which may become incrusted with earth due to the fact 59 that of necessity the walls are foraminated.

In another form of the device the well member may be substantially in the shape of a hollow cone. A still further form is in the shape of an inverted cone with a straight wall completing the configuration.

In a still further form of the invention, the well member may be in the shape of two sections of an inverted cone joined together along vertical lines.

Other features and advantages of the inven- 60 tion will become apparent by reference to the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view partially in section of a flower box with a particular well in position thereof. r

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of the well member.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cleaning device utilized in connection with the well member shown in Fig. 2; and

Figs. a, 5 and 6 are side elevations-of modified forms of well members.

Referring now to the drawing, 10 indicates a flower box which may be constructed of any suitable material, and which in the present instance is of substantially square outline. In conjunction with this type of box use may bemade of a well member 11 which is constructed of a bottom 12, a broad side 13 and short sides 14. Extend- .80 ing outwardly from the short sides 14 are flanges The walls 13 and 14 are provided with apertures 16 as shown. The apertures 16 may be of any suitable number and of any suitable size.

This type of well member may be positioned in .85 the box 10 and secured therein in any desired manner, such as by securing the flanges 15 to-the wall of the box by soldering, riveting, or in any other desired fashion. When properly secured to the inner wall of the box, a well of rectangular .90 cross section which extends particularly to the bottom of the box is provided. If desired the open fourth side of the device can be closed by an added wall.

Since the walls of the well in contact with earth in the box are foraminated. there is great possibility that some of the earth will work into the interior of the well, and unless this condition is taken care of, the well might in time become clogged. Accordingly, use may be made of the .100 cleaning device shown. This device consists simply of a flat metallic plate 20 to which is secured, by means of nuts 21, a long rod 22 provided at the top with a handle 23. Under normal conditions the cleaning member remains in the well resting against the bottom plate 12 thereof. When itis desirous to clean the well, it is necessary only to lift the cleaning member, which lifting pulls the edges of the plate upwardly along the inner surface of the well with the resultant scraping of any incrusted earth therefrom.

When the member has been so manipulated to remove incrusted earth, it may be replaced in the well until further use is required.

In Fig. 4 a well member 30 is shown, such well member being made up of an inverted hollow cone, preferably of metal, which is foraminated as shown. A clip 31 of metal or other suitable material is secured to the top of the cone for suspending the well member in a flower pot or any other suitable earth containing receptacle.

In Fig. 5 a further form of the invention is shown, such form consisting of a section 35 of an inverted cone together with a flat triangular plate 36 secured to the member 35. Both the members 35 and 36 are foraminated as shown. A clip 37 is provided for suspending the device in a flower pot or the like. This clip 3'7 has been shown as being secured to the conical section 35, but of course it is evident that it could be secured directly to the triangular plate 36.

In Fig. 6 a still further modification of the invention is illustrated, such modification consisting of two similar sections 40 and 41 in the nature of sections of inverted cones. These two sections 40 and 41 are joined together as indicated and are foraminated for the purpose herein disclosed. A clip 42 is provided for the same purpose as the clips previously described.

The forms of well members shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 have the advantage that they can be inserted in earth easily due to their pointed ends.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the present invention in any of its forms provides an arrangement whereby flower boxes, pots and the like can be supplied with water with more efficiency than is possible under the present prac tice of watering such containers. To use one of these wells, the only operation required is that the well member, regardless of its form, be embedded in the earth in the container. When so embedded, the earth can be moistened by filling the well with water, and due to the foraminated walls of the well, this water will be distributed fairly uniformly throughout the depth of the earth. By providing a well of this character, it is possible by merely glancing thereinto to note whether the earth in the receptacle needs moistening or not, since if the earth is over abundantly supplied with water, some of the water will remain in the well.

If conditions Warrant, a well having a substantially rectangular cross section can be utilized with efficiency since in this type of device a well cleaner can be provided to remove any incrusted earth from the walls thereof.

When a well of the type shown is used in conjunction with flower boxes, pots, and the like, the hole or holes usually provided in the bottom of the box or pot may be closed, since the necessity therefor is eliminated by the well. In practice it will be found that admirable results can be obtained when one or more of the well members are positioned close to the roots of the plant. Due to this close positioning, some ventilation of the roots can be produced which serves to prevent rotting of the roots, due to excess moisture, and aids the growth of the plant materially in other ways. Moreover, by using a well of the type shown, it is possible to supply fertilizer to the roots of a plant very easily since the fertilizer may be placed in the well and water poured thereon to distribute it in proper fashion. By having the actual pot closed against leakage (due to the plugging of the hole or holes therein) the elements in the earth essential to plant life :are retained in the earth since they cannot escape through any opening.

Wells of this character can be utilized with great efliciency not only in conjunction with flower boxes, pots and the like, but can also be used for supplying moisture and ventilation .to the roots of trees, shrubs, and other plants not contained in pots. Of course, the well must be made somewhat larger, but the invention is not to be limited to any particular size. Furthermore, it is to be understood that where the claim calls for a well member for flower pots, and the like, limitations as to size and use of the well members are not intended, since as before pointed out, their uses are of varied character and numher.

It will be evident that the present invention is capable of considerable modification, in view of which it is not to be limited to the illustrated embodiments, but only by the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A well member for flower boxes and the like comprising a hollow metallic receptacle having foraminated walls, said receptacle being in the shape substantially of an inverted cone, and a suspending clip secured to the edge of the receptacle.

ANGELO LIZZOLA. 

